Meghalaya Mirrors

Anjal Prakash is Clinical Associate Professor (Research) and Research Director at the Bharti Institute of Public Policy, ISB. With over 25 years of experience in water, climate, and policy research across South Asia, he has served as Coordinating Lead Author for the IPCC’s Special Report on Oceans and Cryosphere and contributed to the IPCC AR6. He specialises in urban resilience, gender, and social inclusion, and has authored numerous publications, including eight edited books.Gunanka D.B, an Indian Forest Service officer, is Additional Secretary to the Government of Meghalaya. With 15+ years spanning corporate IT and public administration, he specialises in institutional reform, natural resource management, and data-driven governance. He has led major externally aided projects, strengthened geospatial systems, and advanced community-led conservation models. His work blends systems thinking with grounded implementation, contributing to applied research and policy innovation in ecologically sensitive regions.Sampath Kumar, IAS, serves as Development Commissioner and Principal Secretary, Government of Meghalaya. With 26 years of public administration experience, he pioneered the State Capability Enhancement Project (SCEP), promoting adaptive governance, convergence, and data-driven decision-making. Under his leadership, Meghalaya achieved a significant reduction in acute malnutrition and institutionalised its Early Childhood Development Mission. A Harvard Kennedy School alumnus, he continues to champion systemic governance reforms rooted in community participation and iterative learning.

• Lists of figures. List of tables. List of contributors. Preface. Acknowledgements. List of abbreviations. 1. Editorial. Theme I: Community Engagement: Empowering Local Institutions for Environmental Change. 2. Ecological Transitions and Environmental Change in the Northeastern Hills. 3. Building a Cadre of Community Professionals. 4. Community Nurseries for Forest Restoration. 5. Community Seed Saving for Food Security. 6. Preserving Cultural and Natural Heritage. 7. Supporting Grassroot Innovations. Theme II – Innovative Solutions: Harnessing Technology for Climate Resilience. 8. Sloping Agriculture Land Technology (SALT). 9. Neutralization of Acid Mine Drainage Contaminated Water. 10. Community-Led Hydrological Spring Mapping and Springshed Development in Meghalaya. 11. Seedball Initiatives for Biodiversity Conservation. 12. Integrating Technology for Natural Resource Management. Theme III – Green Financing: Innovations in Funding Climate Action. 13. Conservation of Forests and Payment for Ecosystem Services. 14. Forest Management Plans for Sustainable Forestry. 15. Reclamation of Mining Affected Land Using Aromatic Grass. 16. Agroforestry-Carbon Project in Meghalaya. 17. Leveraging Bamboo Resource. Theme IV – Governance and Policy. 18. Case Study on the Policy and Governance Impact of MBDA. 19. Bridging Skill Gaps in Meghalaya through the Apprenticeship Training Programme. 20. Conclusion. Index.

‘These volumes fill a unique niche in the continuum between academic research and advocacy. They go beyond merely identifying challenges in various aspects of human development, particularly health, nutrition, and education, and instead explore potential solutions through critical reviews of what works. This makes the collection immensely valuable to both academicians and practitioners, rendering these volumes essential reading for anyone interested in public policy.’- Sonalde Desai, Professor, National Council of Applied Economic Research and University of Maryland, USA.‘Human development cannot be viewed segmentally through a reductionist lens, since the various elements are closely integrated and impact each other. Health is inseparable from nutrition, and both are influenced by education, environment and economic development. In each of these, equity is the litmus test of development serving its social purpose. These six volumes knit these varied skeins into a unified tapestry of human development. While detailing the key components of each of the main themes, the composite collection connects them to create a coherent design for accelerated and equitable people centric human development in India.’- K. Srinath Reddy, Founder (Past) President, Public Health Foundation of India‘These volumes compile the results of many micro studies in the areas of health, nutrition, education and rural livelihood development. These are critical areas where India needs to improve performance to achieve the objective of Viksit Bharat. Larger funding is unavoidable but even more important is to ensure efficiency of spending and it is here that these micro studies will provide evidence-based guidance in what works and in what circumstances. The solutions will not be the same across all states and this must be built into the design of each programme at the state level. The collection is an invaluable contribution in this very important area.’- Montek Singh Ahluwalia, Ex-Deputy Chairman, Planning Commission of India'This insightful volume is a testament to the resilience and innovation of Meghalaya's communities in environmental stewardship. It serves as an inspiring blueprint for others worldwide, emphasizing the importance of local engagement in sustainable development.' - Mr. Aibanshngain Swer, Director, Meghalaya Institute of Governance, Shillong, India'The book showcases how local communities in the North East address environmental challenges of the region. The work presents narratives of grassroots initiatives and demonstrates the potential of community-driven conservation approaches for sustainable development.'- Dr M Dinesh Kumar, Executive Director, Institute of Resource Analysis and Policy, Hyderabad, India